The 9 Millimeter Kiss - Chapter 73: Chapter 73

Aizawa couldn't process why two of his students were in the infirmary sleeping. He could understand why one of them was there. But the other, it was out of character. Classes were over and neither had shown up for the rest of the day after lunch, so he was sympathetic enough to drop off their school bags. Mostly because he was curious whether or not they were actually resting.
Dr. Nozawa had called him earlier and explained the situation regarding Satori's research and findings during their work study. Dr. Nozawa had been careful in choosing his words since he wasn't sure if Aizawa was aware of the boy's history but Aizawa was quick to clarify he did. He knew of the young healer's history and he knew what evidence they handled. Having just received a follow up from Sir Nighteye, Aizawa would have to keep a watchful eye on Satori.
Yuki was glad he could put one of his worries on the back burner. Although he didn't feel any lighter, he didn't feel as overwhelmed before.
"Are you going to tell me about your mumbling from before or what?" Bakugo attempted to start a conversation. The two walked at a steady pace back to the dorms. It was late and no doubt the two would have trouble actually sleeping for the rest of the night. After all, a nap had turned into 6hr slumber.
"I'm pretty sure I can't." Yuki repeated. "But if it gives you any hint to why it's so affecting, It's similar to what I went through. I think... I hope not."
Bakugo frowned and didn't comment on it. To think someone else is going through something similar to him as a child. The world must feel so cruel to them, he thought.
"How're your remedial classes going? Getting along with Todoroki?" Yuki tries to perk up the conversation.
"Tch. IcyHot's getting on my nerves with every class we go to. Not only that. That bald windy fuck and Meatball brain are also getting on my nerves–"
Yuki happily listened to Bakugo's ranting, taking his mind off things and simply enjoying their walk.
A week passed. And during that week Dr. Nozawa hadn't contacted Yuki to return to his work study. To which the boy wasn't surprised. He was emotionally unstable and he'd probably break every rule possible to find out everything about the investigation of the new drug.
"Aizawa-sensei, please, let me help with the investigation!" Yuki had pleaded with a deep bow in the teachers lounge.
"This isn't an investigation I can freely bring you into."
Aizawa refused every time.
Satori Yuki wasn't one to give up on things that mattered so easily. If he wanted to do something he would find a way. And one way that could help him obtain more information, was to think back on what he already knew.
"...Esuha City..." Yuki mumbled, nibbling at the inside of his cheek.
"What about it?" Bakugo asked, looking up from his homework.
"Hm?" Yuki too looked up, "What about what?"
"You were mumbling something about Esuha city." Bakugo replied.
Bakugo has been trying to figure out what Yuki was trying to figure out. He'd follow him to the teachers lounge where the healer would beg to be part of an investigation and Bakugo wondered just how important the case was for Yuki to be in constant deep thought. He'd been given a hint, something similar to what Yuki experienced. But even though he didn't know the details about. With the case publicly sealed, there was only so much the imagination could do.
"I told you about how I'm currently on probation right?" Yuki began.
"Yea, you just didn't tell me why." Bakugo discreetly opened his notebook to the back. The few clues he seemed to be getting from Yuki were all over the place and had no connection. At least on the surface level.
"They placed me on probation due to the similarities between my past case and the case now. Even if it does seem similar, I know there's probably more to it than what it seems." Yuki explained. "I just don't know who or where this is happening."
Bakugo continued to stare at the healer, "If you tell me I might be able to help." He grunted.
"Can't do that. Even knowing as much as I'm telling you can get me in trouble." Yuki smiled slightly as Bakugo's nose scrunched up.
"By the way," Bakugo sighed, skimming his homework, "You told me to ask shitty hair where he was doing work study. Is that one of your next clues?"
"Depends on where he's going, yes." Yuki confirmed.
"Well, he's doing work study at Esuha." Bakugo grumbled.
Yuki held his breath, "Really?"
"Yeah."
"He's with one of the Big Three, isn't he?" Yuki continued to pry.
Bakugo nodded, "Yeah. Kept making a fuss over how his Senpai needed to stay at the hospital overnight. Shitty hair worries too much for someone who's part of the Big Three."
"Did he now?" Yuki calmly replied. He quickly made a mental note to question Kirishima when he didn't have work study.
The two grew silent as they continued their homework.
Bakugo quietly analyzing Yuki, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Yuki was racking his mind about how he would even ask Kirishima about the case. If he was even a part of it.
The following days when Midoriya, Uraraka, Tsuyu, and Kirishima returned to school were filled with a sense of duty in their everyday training. After having a meeting discussing Shie Hassaikai and their leader, Overhaul, the four were placed on standby and with each passing day they grew anxious as they awaited the call.
Everyone in Class 1-A was aware of the sudden shift in attitude and to some it was worrying. But to Satori Yuki, their behavior only gave him another piece of the puzzle.
It was late one night when Midoriya entered the shower room after having finished his training. The common area was deserted and the majority of the first floor lights were out. Everything was quiet with the accompaniment of distant crickets.
Midoriya was enjoying the quiet solitude as the shower pressure soothes his headache. He'd been doing well from keeping information from the ones who didn't know. And the ones who did know couldn't talk about it within themselves out of caution of an information leak. It was hard feeling responsible for not being able to save someone the minute it was possible.
"... I also ended up crying during lunch." Midoriya quietly sighed. He hoped the phone call happened soon–
The sound of a bucket hit the tiles, bringing him out of his thoughts.
He shut off the shower and waited for another noise.
Nothing.
"Maybe it was off balance." he mumbled to himself, reaching out the shower door for his towel.
"Huh?" he waved his hand around, grasping onto nothing. "My towel–" his fingers brushed against the towel, quickly grasping it.
"Was the hanger always that far?" he wondered, pulling onto it.
Bringing the towel closer to the door a hand followed along with it. "Eh?"
"Midoriya!" Yuki mischievously smiled.
"EEK!"
It was a battle to keep his balance on the wet tiles.
Yuki swiftly grabbed his arms and helped him stand. Too much in shock Midoriya only dozed off attempting to calm his heartbeat.
Yuki took the towel from his friend's hand and wrapped it around Midoriya's waist before closing the shower door.
"Oi, Midori'. " Yuki snapped his fingers. "I have some questions for you."
The poor boy came to, "YUKI–" the healer quickly slapped his hand over the freckled boy's mouth.
"You're too loud. Shut up and listen." Yuki harshly whispered.
It didn't process in Midoriya's head just how close and vulnerable he was at the moment.
"What are you doing?" he asked, moving Yuki's hand away from his mouth.
"I know about the drug." Yuki got straight to the point.
Midoriya frowned, "What–"
"I know about the kid. They're being used to make the drug, right?" Yuki questioned with confidence, staring into Midoriya's eyes.
"You know about–!"
Yuki quickly whispered, "I know Amajiki-senpai also had his quirk erased but was brought back. The dosage was either to small or too unstable but that's not the point–"
"How do you know?!" Midoriya stammered.
Yuki slapped his hand back over his mouth. "I'm the one who ran tests on the drug. I know the kid's between 5-7 years old. So I need you to tell me everything else I haven't already said."
No one else was supposed to know about Shie–
"Midoriya, who's making the drug?" Yuki's whisper was either awfully cold or it could have been his back touching the tiles that was responsible for the shiver running rampant.
He didn't know about Shie Hassaikai . Or Overhaul.
Yuki removed his hand waiting an answer.
"I-I don't know what your talking about–"
"I can tell when you're lying. Now you can start off by giving me names." Yuki told him, his face hardening into a glare.
"I'm not allowed to say anything." Midoriya stated.
Yuki bit the inside of his cheek, "What about the kid? Can't you tell me something about them?"
"I'm not allowed to tell you." Midoriya gritted.
Yuki continued to hold his ground, "I know Uraraka, Tsuyu, Kirishima and you recently had a meeting regarding the case."
He didn't. It was just the logical conclusion he'd come to seeing as the case was top secret and Kirishima had initially been a part of. And now that the others were acting just as suspiciously as him, with the others being from different cities, it was the closest he'd narrowed it down to.
Midoriya went to say something but remained quiet. Confirming Yuki's suspicion.
"I need you tell me the names of the kid and the people behind the drug." Yuki stressed.
Midroiya closed his eyes as Yuki's face morphed into a pleading one, "I can't–"
" –I'm as much part of this case as you are. I'm currently on probation from my work study because of how similar this case is to the one from my life." Yuki tried to explain.
"I'm not allowed." Midoriya told himself more than he told Yuki. He needed to talk to someone about it but he wasn't allowed to- he couldn't possibly--
"You know your Hero history right? Then you must also know about the villains they fought, right?" Yuki asked, growing desperate.
I can't tell him. Even if he knows this much.
Midoriya brought his hands up to cover his ears.
Yuki rashly gripped the boy's wrists, keeping them from blocking out his pitiful attempts of interrogation.
"Then you must have read about those disappearances and how they turned out to be a murder case right?" Yuki tried so hard not to raise his voice, holding his friend's wrists tightly.
Midoriya did know what he was talking about. It was one of the few cases that hit so close to home for him. Had it not been for Bakugo's mom who ran into him, he could have been–
"I was one of them." Yuki admitted. His throat, tightening.
Midoriya's eyes widened, staring at the floor.
"I was the only survivor. You read about that didn't you? You know about what happened." Yuki quickly took note of his features. Of course he knew. It was Midoriya. He was bound to have fallen into a rabbit hole and it was one of the most modern devastating cases. One would have at least heard about it.
"I was used and abused and scared and I suffered because no one was able to find the culprit." Yuki continued, loosening his grip on the boy's wrist.
"Midoriya, please. I need to know what you know about the case. I don't want this to ever happen to anyone or for it to go however long it has for a child who's being used for their blood."
Midoriya clenched his hands into a fist. This isn't something one would lie about. Especially not Yuki.
Yuki waited for Midoriya to respond. He was thinking about it and thinking about it deeply. It didn't go unnoticed, the shaky breath his friend released.
Midoriya glanced up at Yuki, still unsure.
"I just want– I need to help... even if it's small, I need to do something." Yuki's voice quivered. The corner of his eyes tinted red.
Fully turning his attention to him, Midoriya took a deep breath.
"Okay. I'll tell you what I know–"
Yuki threw his arms over Midoriya and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you."
Midoriya returned Yuki's hug.
A hug that held his grieving for not just Eri, who he couldn't save, but also Yuki. The one who had to save himself.
"[Allowing Mr. Watanabe access]"
A guard carefully escorted the lawyer through the white halls of Tartarus. This would be the lawyer's 2nd time allowed inside.
"[Securing Matsuda Ittetsu]"
"He's been very compliant recently." the guard tells Mr. Watanabe as they await a green light.
"He mentioned he'd be on his best behavior last I was here." The lawyer replied.
The guard hummed. "Alert us at any suspicious movement. The visit will be recorded as ordered by the court. Under any circumstances, you are NOT to touch the glass. If you have anything you wish to give to the detained, we ask you to hand it over for inspection."
"And If I want to show something?" Mr. Watanabe asked as a green light bulb was lit.
"You are welcome to show but please keep your distance from the glass." The guard replied.
"Understood." the lawyer, cleared his throat and prepared himself.
"Opening Visiting room #5!" A short alarm followed and in walked the lawyer.
Mr. Watanabe stopped, allowing his eyes to adjust to the brightness of the lights. It seemed there was hardly any room for a shadow to hide.
"You came back!~" an oddly cheery voice greeted him.
Mr. Watanabe looked over to the man he hoped to never see again. "Matsuda."
The man was in a straightjacket chained down to the chair, the chair also bolted down feet away from the glass.
"Nice to see a familiar face. Though I would have preferred it to be Yuki-kun." he pouted mischievously.
"You know you're not allowed to see him." Mr. Watanbe took a seat.
"I am if it's for an exchange." Matsuda sighed before ginning, "You're here. Which itself tells me he still couldn't remember all of them... Am I right?"
Mr. Watanabe kept a composed expression and didn't reply. Anything Matsuda wanted to say he would say even if he replied or not.
"Well, not that it really matters to me. I'm already here for life and–"
"He was able to name all of them." The lawyer interrupted.
Matsuda's grin faltered.
"All except 20."
A glimpse of a smile, "Oh~ Did he, now?"
Matsuda had always been one for mind games when it came to his trail. And it appeared to still be the case.
"If he resumed therapy there is no doubt in my mind he'd be able to recall another 10." Mr. Watanabe explained. "So you should put an end to your pathetic attempt at a bargain–"
"HAHAHA!You really think he'll remember the other 20?! 20? 20 measly names that mean nothing to you but will utterly break him?! Please~" Matsuda excitedly laughed, tossing his head back against the chair.
Mr. Watanabe scowled as the crazed laughter continued.
"If you think there isn't anything meaningful behind the other 20 you are strongly mistaken. I know those 20 but he never will tell you about them." Matsuda taunted.
Mr. Watanabe narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "You seem so sure about that."
Matsuda caught a gasp of air and gleefully smiled, "I'm more than sure. I'm confident he will never utter those names again. I made sure of that."
The lawyer gripped into his arms. Matsuda continued.
"If you think my influence on him has broken, you're wrong. Because as soon as I utter one word, a name and the things we did... even you'd find it hard to look at your kin."
"He's sworn to tell me everything he remembers–"
"ONLY the things HE can recall." Matsuda stressed. "But what of the things he won't?"
"Even after your trial you continue to spill out more things YOU DID TO HIM?!" Mr. Watanabe snapped, standing up from his seat.
Matsuda shrugged, holding back a chuckle. "You say he's doing well now, yes?"
Mr. Watanabe took a deep breath, calming himself. All he wanted for the boy to be free. "What of it? Are you scared of letting him live a life?"
"Not at all!" Matsuda smirked, "It's just a part of me that feels... he's having a bit of conflict with himself."
Matsuda stared at Mr. Watanabe. Watching him come to the horrible conclusion he'd missed years before.
"How... you're not registered–"
"Doesn't work on those I don't have a connection with." Matsuda admitted.
"Then break it!" The lawyer shouted, standing inches from the glass.
"Mr. Watanabe, please step away from the glass."
"Did you really think it was him remembering? That boy would have died the day he set foot out of my sight had I not done what I did." Matsuda lightly frowned.
Mr. Watanabe was furious. And Matsuda was loving every second.
"Bring the boy to me and I'll undo my quirk so he can remember things at his own pace. This won't hurt him."
"And if I don't? There are people with quirks that can erase your connection. Can't they?" Watanabe reminded him.
A heavy sigh left Matsuda, "Do that and he'll break. Even before everything I did to him, he still means something to me."
"You have an awful way of showing it." The lawyer sneered at him.
Giving the signal to open the doors the short alarm rang.
Before Watanabe left Mastuda mumbled,
"We show the love others gave us first."